180th Anniversary Supplement
Contents 4
Foreword Welcome to Hutton’s 180th Anniversary
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History History in the making
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Anniversary Celebrations Celebrating in style
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Office Network Branching out Opening up
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Alex Taylor Breaking the mould
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Inside Hutton’s In the mix New website launch Power to the people Money matters Passage to India
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Industry Insight Defying the doubters A healthy relationship Raising the standard Eazychem: A formula for success Size matters
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Future Focus Forward thinking
Written and edited by Andy Pierce Published Summer 2007 Hutton & Co. (Ship Chandlers) Ltd James Bell House Connaught Road Kingswood Hull HU7 3AQ United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1482 324093 Fax:+44 (0) 1482 580588 E-mail: sales@huttons-chandlers.com
Published by
Publisher Sean Moloney Media Director Jean Winfield
www.elabor8.co.uk Acorn Farm Business Centre Cublington Road, Wing Bedfordshire LU7 0LB United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1296 682051 Fax: +44 (0) 1296 682156
Assistant Editor Andy Pierce Advertising Sales Karen Cray Sales Support Martine Frost Research Director Roger Morley Accounts Irene Morley Production & Design Phil Macaulay
Foreword
Dear friends and colleagues
Welcome
to Hutton’s 180th Anniversary Supplement
Alan Taylor Chairman Hutton & Co (Ship Chandlers) Ltd
W
Our facilities are among the best in the UK and our staff are highly trained to meet our customers’ international requirements. We make sure that all orders are delivered in optimum condition and to the highest quality
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e are very proud to celebrate this key event in our long history. But, at the same time, we are also keen to look to the future and focus on the challenges and opportunities we will encounter in an increasingly commercial market. With a history going back to the 1800s, Hutton’s has provided a quality service to ships calling at UK ports. The journey has not been an easy one and we overcame many difficulties along the way. However, today Hutton’s boasts first class facilities and a fleet of state-of-the-art climate controlled vehicles which deliver a full range of food and technical products to our customers. We are also one of the UK’s longest established marine suppliers with a history going back almost 200 years. Hutton’s is the UK’s leading supplier to the maritime industry. We offer a wide range of international food items, technical products and services to the international shipping and offshore industries, and operate across a network of six strategically located branches.
It’s our aim to ensure our supplies are delivered in optimum condition to many of the world’s best known shipping lines In addition, our investment in warehousing and modular freezers has allowed us to increase our range of products held in stock. This enables us to offer our customers a wide selection of products including chemicals and a variety of multicultural foods. We aim to continue to assist our customers with the most appropriate and cost-effective solutions for marine supply by combining our skills, experience and extensive industry knowledge. This anniversary event is of tremendous significance to us. It demonstrates our company’s survival over some tumultuous periods in history and is a tribute to the support we have been given by our customers who have benefited from our forward-looking approach in all that we do. Our aim has always been to keep our customers’ ships moving and ensure they have all their required products onboard.
180th Anniversary Supplement
Foreword
We’re pleased to be able to celebrate our anniversary with the production of this supplement and I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all of our customers who have supported us We’re now entering a new phase in our development. With 95% of UK ports within two hours drive of a Hutton’s branch we are able to offer: • An increased range of products held in stock, offering customers a wide selection of products including ethnic and specialist items. • A larger stock holding of products which ensures that the goods are constantly available for customers and also provides Hutton’s with better buying power. This undoubtedly passes savings onto our customers. • Rapid supply and distribution through our national network to all UK ports and continental Europe in temperature controlled vehicles. • Fully Customs approved order processing for the storage of bonded products.
Anniversary with the production of this supplement and I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all of our customers, suppliers and partners who have supported us. Additionally, we are launching a new product catalogue in the autumn which will contain our full product range, details of our new website and literature to support our marketing functions. We also look forward to inviting many of our key customers and colleagues to our Anniversary dinner in September. It will be
Hutton’s range of products & services includes:
held at the Savoy Grill with food prepared by Gordon Ramsay. We’re sure this will prove to be a highly enjoyable and entertaining evening for all. Finally, and perhaps most critically, I would like to thank the staff at Hutton’s for their support and professional commitment to all that we do. Without them we would not be the respected company we remain today. I’m looking forward to taking Hutton’s to the next stage in its long history. I recognise the challenge before me, however, knowing that I have dedicated staff and customers who fully understand and appreciate the difference that Hutton’s brings to their businesses is a real asset and comfort to me.
• Provisions, janitorial and bonded stores At Hutton’s we place quality at the heart of our operation and aim to make it everybody’s business. Our facilities are among the best in the UK and our staff are highly trained to meet our customers’ international requirements. We make sure that all orders are delivered in optimum condition and to the highest quality. We’re pleased to be able to celebrate our
180th Anniversary Supplement
• Technical & consumables • Catering services • International storage, handling and distribution
• Service provider of international products
We also look forward to inviting many of our key customers and colleagues to our Anniversary dinner in September. It will be held at the Savoy Grill with food prepared by Gordon Ramsay. We’re sure this will prove to be a highly enjoyable and entertaining evening for all
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History
History in the making A
company born at Hull’s Queen’s Dock was always destined to have strong ties with the sea. And so it proved for Hutton’s, which started life as Hull’s first ironmongers (known then as Metcalfe’s) way back in 1820. At the time Hull was a thriving port which served as a prime landing stage for fish caught in the North Sea. It was also a major receiver of cargoes flowing in from ports in the Baltic and Scandinavia. The British Empire was in full swing and there was plenty of business to be done at
port cities around the UK. The large number of ships, barges and trawlers sailing in the River Humber had a great appetite for goods. Hutton’s entered this vibrant market in 1827 and Hutton & Co Ship Chandlers was born. Following the outbreak of World War I the need for ports to have a reliable bank of ship suppliers became even more pronounced. Hutton’s was one of an army of local chandlers working overtime to meet the needs of Qships and naval auxiliary vessels visiting the River Humber.
Hutton’s was again called upon to aid the war effort in 1939. But with the return of peace in 1945 the company was given fresh impetus when a group of influential local ship owners joined forces to buy the company. They appointed Allan Marshall, who had served with 10 Commando during World War II, to run to company. Allan Marshall, who was later dubbed “Mr Hutton”, became the driving force behind the
History of HSS International
1896 Brothers Arthur and Frank Taylor established a high class grocery business which commenced trading as Taylor Bros of Hull. Within two to three years it was supplying a number of ships in Hull
1920 Frank Taylor died of anthrax poisoning from a shaving brush. The following year, Arthur Taylor changed the business name to Hull Ships Stores and concentrated on supplying ships. Within ten years Hull Ships Stores became the major supplier to British ships in the Hull area
1922
In 1971 Hutton’s ceased being a private company and became a member of the Fitch Lovell Group. The extra financial clout brought about by its membership of a large group gave the company greater financial muscle
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Hull Ships Stores undertook it’s first export order, supplying the four-masted barque “Bellands” in St Nazaire (France). The stores list included over 5000 square yards of sail canvas and 80 barrels of salted beef. The order was dispatched from the company’s premises in Dock Street, Hull by horse and cart to the local goods railway station. From there it headed to the south coast of England, was loaded on a ship for France and then transported on the French railway network to St Nazaire
1987Hull Ships Stores became HSS International. HSS International acquired Hutton’s in the year 2000 and in 2001 HSS International and Hutton’s were amalgamated and have since traded as Hutton & Co (Ships Chanders) Ltd
180th Anniversary Supplement
History
Key dates in Hutton’s history
Alan Taylor’s acquisition of Hutton’s in 2000 proved to be another significant move in the company’s history, as he brought over 100 years of family ship supply experience with him
1820 Metcalfe’s is established as an ironmonger at North Dock Walls, a continuation of Queen’s Dock, Hull
1827 Metcalfe’s develops into Hutton & Co (Ships Chandlers)
1914 – 1918 Hutton’s helps the war effort by supplying naval ships visiting the River Humber
1945 Following World War II local ship owners acquire the company and appoint “Mr Hutton”, Allan Marshall, to run the business
1970s A period of major growth for Hutton’s with new premises opened at Hull, and new branches at Liverpool, Southampton, Middlesbrough, Immingham and Rotterdam
1971 - 1996 The Fitch Lovel- and later the Booker Group assume control of the company
1996 Hutton’s returns to private ownership following a management buyout
2000 Hutton’s is acquired by the Taylor family which had 100 years experience of ship supply. Alan Taylor appointed Managing Director
2001 Alex Taylor joins Hutton’s as Logistics Manager before rising to become Sales & Marketing Director in 2003
2005 Specialist supplier, Marine & Offshore Medical Supplies, added to Hutton’s portfolio Hutton’s opens in Scotland following purchase of Edinburgh-based chandler, Beruldsen’s
2006 Hutton’s opens a branch at Aberdeen, headed by regional expert, Bruce McIntosh Alex Taylor becomes Hutton’s Managing Director, succeeding his father, Alan Taylor, who becomes Chairman
180th Anniversary Supplement
company’s post war growth. A move to larger premises at Mytongate was followed by a period of accelerated growth and prosperity. Mr Marshall, who had enjoyed a successful partnership with Eric Wright, brought the then hardware-orientated concern and led the company into the fresh provisions field following the purchase of C.W. Hewson. This move also helped Hutton’s expand its geographical coverage as it gained control of the erstwhile Hewson’s branches at Hull, Immingham and Middlesbrough. In 1971 Hutton’s ceased being a private company and became a member of the Fitch Lovell Group. The extra financial clout brought about by its membership of a large group gave the company greater financial muscle. And following Allan Marshall’s rise to the chairmanship of Fitch & Son Ltd, its London, Liverpool and Southampton branches entered Hutton’s control and further widened its ability to serve major UK ports. The company later changed hands again and joined the Booker Group. However, it returned to private ownership in 1996 following a management buy out. By this time the Hutton’s name was firmly established and the company
was able to boast customers worldwide. Alan Taylor’s acquisition of Hutton’s in 2000 proved to be another significant move in the company’s history, as he brought over 100 years of family ship supply experience with him. His son Alex Taylor, a fifth generation ship chandler, arrived as Logistics Manager in 2001, having served as a Second Officer with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and quickly progressed to become Sales and Marketing Director in 2003. In January 2005 Marine & Offshore Medical Supplies, a specialist medical supplier, was added to the Hutton’s portfolio, broadening the company’s expertise in the increasingly important area of medical provisions. In the same year Hutton’s increased its UK coverage with the acquisition of the Edinburgh-based ship chandler, Beruldson’s. Hutton’s presence in Scotland was further heightened in 2006 with the opening of premises at Aberdeen, headed by Bruce McIntosh. In the same year Alex Taylor succeeded his father, Alan, as Hutton’s Managing Director. Now, with three record years just passed, and a unique branch network firmly established, Hutton’s is well placed to move forwards and write another chapter in its proud history.
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Anniversary Celebrations
Celebrating in style One hundred and eighty years is no ordinary birthday celebration. It calls for something out of the ordinary and at the Savoy Grill, London, Hutton’s guests can be sure of a memorable experience
H
utton’s will be the spriteliest 180 yearold in the house when the company’s staff and customers rub shoulders at London’s Savoy Grill in September to officially mark the anniversary. The company may not be receiving a telegram from the Queen to mark this historic occasion, but those lucky enough to attend the event will be in for a memorable experience and one fitting of such an occasion. The Savoy Grill is one of London’s leading restaurants, with a seasonal menu prepared by charismatic celebrity chefs, Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing. Whether the attendees will be treated to an audience with the “FWord” star remains to be seen. However, anyone who gains a seat at the Captain’s Table can be sure of a culinary treat to beat all others. The Savoy Grill steak comes with a personal recommendation of Hutton’s Managing Director, Alex Taylor.
“We expect to have between 40 and 50 guests attending. We have hired out a private dining room for everybody to make it extra special. And, as it’s Gordon Ramsay’s place, it should prove to be a fantastic venue“
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The Hutton’s boss has an eye for quality and is looking forward to the event with great expectations. “It should be an amazing evening. We expect to have between 40 and 50 guests attending. We have hired out a private dining room for everybody to make it extra special. And, as it’s Gordon Ramsay’s place, it will prove to be a fantastic venue. The food is certainly of the highest order.” Mr Taylor continued: “It is certainly somewhere a little bit special. This event is a cele-
bration and the Savoy Grill is the perfect place. It is a quality venue and it will be an interesting experience for everybody who attends. It is one of the best restaurants in London at which to stage such an event.” The Hutton’s 180 year anniversary dinner promises to be a corporate event to match no other and has been strategically timed to ensure that the vast majority of the company’s valued customers are able to attend. “Most of our customers are international,” Mr Taylor said. “The date was chosen to coinside with the IMPA exhibition when many of them will be in London, naturally. It’s much easier to meet up in a central location, with London the obvious candidate.”
180th Anniversary Supplement
Anniversary Celebrations
“It should be an amazing evening“ Gordon Ramsay’s choice of words may not suit everybody’s taste, but his presence at the evening should blend in well with Hutton’s star-studded line up of maritime luminaries. And the TV chef is at his best when he is in front of a stove rather than behind a camera. “I don’t like his vocabulary,” Mr Taylor explained. “But I have been to some of his other restaurants and the food is certainly excellent. The service is also good and it has a good image. It is a sign of quality which goes hand in hand with what we are trying to achieve for our customers.”
180th Anniversary Supplement
Anniversary catalogue Hutton’s will mark its 180 year anniversary by launching its first product catalogue. The new directory, which is designed to compliment the existing ISSA catalogue, will be made available to current and potential customers in hard copy and online. As the first in what Hutton’s hopes will become an annual publication, the catalogue will be an invaluable point of reference and help to ensure customers order the perfect product to meet their needs. The catalogue will be full of additional information to help Hutton’s customers make a more informed decision, before deciding which product to buy.
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Office Network
Branching out S
hip supply is a dynamic industry. Ship chandlers in the UK have witnessed a lot of consolidation and shrinkage in the market. Their world has become a smaller place, with the number of chandlers in each port decreasing dramatically. European ports have seen the number of independent ship chandlers more than halve over the past decade. However, while others have struggled, Hutton’s has progressed and cemented its position as an industry leader. “You have got to diversify and move with the times,” explained Alex Taylor, Hutton’s Managing Director. “You can’t stay localised. You’ve got to look at the market internationally and aim to develop contacts and a customer base worldwide. Then look at supporting that worldwide customer base on a national scale.” A five year process of acquisition and enterprise has allowed Hutton’s to develop a ‘branch network’, with local offices supported from the Head Office and distribution hub at Hull, Yorkshire. This unique operating structure enables Hutton’s to deliver high quality service
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Ship supply is extremely competitive but with Hutton’s branch network the company can offer the same high quality service at every port in the UK
to 95% of all UK ports within two hours. “Through our branch network we can offer full UK national support to a customer based on the other side of the world. Our branch network stretches from Southampton in the south to Aberdeen in the north. We can look after vessels docking at every single port in the UK and give the operator full coverage,” Alex Taylor said. The system allows Hutton’s to stand head and shoulders above its rivals when it comes to service and support. “Anyone can claim to be able to deliver to a vessel at any port worldwide. But are they really going to offer full support to that vessel when it’s got samples onboard, it needs to change something over
or the agent requires an item to be picked up? We can offer that support,” Alex Taylor added. The full support offered by the Hutton’s branch network extends way beyond delivering a shopping list of items to a vessel. “Full support involves liaising with the local agents, port authorities and the personnel onboard the vessel to make sure that the delivery is completed at the correct time. For deliveries we also liaise with the local agents to ensure goods are supplied according to local regulations,” he said. By structuring the Hutton’s organisation in this way, Alex Taylor believes he can offer customers an international service, complimented by local expertise. “Each office has a tailored
180th Anniversary Supplement
Office Network
local knowledge and is able to feed into a network which allows the branches to liaise with each other. The computer system speaks to all of our branches in real time. Hutton's staff can look at an individual job and know exactly what’s going on in a precise matter,” he said. A local presence allows the company to deliver supplies to a vessel on time. Having local staff on site also provides customers with a recognisable face and a reassuring personal link to the company. Hutton’s locally based staff are versed in the rhetoric of regional legislation. They also offer flexibility and can cater for individual requirements in a fast and efficient manner. “We can be flexible and apply that final touch to a delivery,” said Martin Kemp, Hutton’s Operations Manager. “If a ship needs 24 litres of milk and some electrodes our local representative has got a van. He can go and collect last minute requests from local sources and finish the order off. “We’ve got people on the spot at each of the major ports who can go onboard the ship to satisfy the customers, let them know when we
“Through our branch network we can offer full UK national support to a customer based on the other side of the world. Our branch network stretches from Southampton in the south to Aberdeen in the north. We can look after vessels docking at every single port in the UK and give the operator full coverage”
“We’ve got people on the spot at each of the major ports who can go onboard the ship to satisfy the customers, let them know when we will be arriving and what samples we will be able to provide”
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Office Network
Providing this raft of services requires an efficient and carefully orchestrated logistics operation. Supplying the correct spices to the Indian crew of a tanker calling at Middlesbrough, or the desired volume of sausages and baked beans to hungry offshore workers around Aberdeen, requires a great deal of precision will be arriving and what samples we will be able to provide. We’ve got the ability to be personalised, to go to our customers and find out what they want. A face provides the human touch. I.T. is great but customers still need a person to deal with. That’s commitment to the customer,” Martin Kemp added. Hutton’s branch network is a real unique selling point for the company. It’s capable of supplying specialist goods and, due to efficient UK-wide communications and logistics, is able to forward any desired items on to a vessel’s next scheduled port of call. Alex Taylor said: “These are the extra-added bonuses that we offer to our customers. Through the branch network we can supply vessels with niche items quickly, certainly at its next UK port. This service is unique for a UK chandler.” And the efficiency of supply is not confined to the UK. “We can forward items onto other ports worldwide,” he continued. “A vessel could give us something that needs to be specially made. We can take it ashore, arrange the fabrication, and then forward it on to the vessel’s next port, wherever it may be in the world.” Providing this raft of services requires an efficient and carefully orchestrated logistics operation. Supplying the correct spices to the Indian crew of a tanker calling at Middlesbrough, or the desired volume of sausages and baked beans to hungry offshore workers around
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180th Anniversary Supplement
Office Network
Aberdeen, requires a great deal of precision. What’s more, all of the effort would be in vain if the order isn’t delivered on time. “Logistics is the most important factor in supplying stocks to ships. Being in the right place at the right time is the most important thing. With modern ships the turnaround times are very fast. Some of the regular ships we supply spend only 10 hours on the berth. If they berth at 5 o’clock in the evening, they will be gone at 3 o’clock the following morning. We’ve got to adapt to that,” Alex Taylor said. “You can’t adapt to that if you are at the other end of the world. And we couldn’t do that if we were just a one branch operation. But our branch network gives us the logistics support and allows us to have local people on site,” he added.
“Customers know that they’re going to get their goods delivered on time. They know that the correct goods are going to be supplied. So it takes a lot of the pressure off them and it means that we’re doing our job correctly” Hutton’s branch network also gives the company an advantage when dealing with large orders. “We have the transport and infrastructure here to support mammoth jobs and oneoffs from this office [at Hull]. We can load a truck tonight at 5 o’clock and it will be sat in Falmouth or Rotterdam at 8 o’clock tomorrow morning,” Alex Taylor said. The branch network has enabled Hutton’s to distance itself from the “sign here, there’s your gear” mentality and given customers added value. Until now many operators used price as the only criteria for selecting a supplier. “We have moved away from the model of just pumping out order after order,” he said. “The person who controls an operator’s supply budget doesn’t see the end product. So the only variable that could differentiate between us and another supplier was price. “We’re offering quality and that will reflect better in the long run. Customers know that they’re going to get their goods delivered on time. They know that the correct goods are going to be supplied. So it takes a lot of the pressure off them and it means that we’re doing our job correctly,” Alex Taylor concluded.
180th Anniversary Supplement
COMPLETE COVERAGE Head Office – Hull Situated in the industrial heartland of the UK this modern facility is at the heart of the Hutton’s network. It arranges all national and international distribution Tel: +44 1482 324093 Fax: +44 1482 580588 Managing Director: Alex Taylor
Southampton Specialising in container, tanker and cruise ship supply, the Southampton branch provides service to all southern UK ports including London, Bristol and Pembroke Tel: +44 2380 331355 Fax: +44 2380 223219 Sales Manager: Eddie Newman
Immingham Located close to the Humber ports, this established base also supplies ships at Great Yarmouth and Felixstowe Tel: +44 1469 571123 Fax: +44 1469 572166 Sales Manager - Mark Lenham
Middlesbrough A leading supplier of tankers and cargo vessels, the Middlesbrough branch is well equipped to meet the multicultural needs of today’s modern seafarers Tel: +44 1642 438406 Fax: +44 1642 438476 Sales Manager - George Carmichael
Leith/Edinburgh Acquired by the Hutton’s brand two years ago to supply all Central and Southern Scottish ports, supplying both cargo and cruise ships Tel: +44 131 538 6655 Fax: +44 131 538 7655 Branch Manager - Gaidis Griva
Aberdeen The latest addition to the Hutton’s network, it’s ideally located to serve Aberdeen, Peterhead, Montrose and all northern UK ports Tel: +44 (0) 1224 594668 Fax: +44 (0) 1224 594870 Branch Manager - Bruce McIntosh
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Office Network
Opening up
Bruce McIntosh brought a wealth of ship supply experience to Hutton’s when he joined in November 2005. He had identified an opportunity in the Aberdeen area and put his 15 years of industry know-how to good use to establish the Hutton’s name in the area. He talks openly about Hutton’s growth in the region and the importance of a strong support network.
How successful has the Hutton’s Aberdeen branch been during its first year? We believe we have been very successful since we opened in January 2006. We offer a one stop shop to vessels calling at local ports up here. The majority of the competing ship chandlers in the area tend to stick to one specific area of supply. Some of them simply supply food; some specialise in technical supplies, while some only stock deck and engine products.
You have a strong reputation for supplying the offshore industry. What challenges does this market pose? From this office we focus on supplying the offshore industry and its supply vessels. Quality service is paramount as we rely very much on repeat business, with the same vessels coming in and out of the harbour all the time. Establishing trust and a strong relationship with each customer is very important. We understand the way each customer works and what their specific needs are.
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Quality service is paramount as we rely very much on repeat business, with the same vessels coming in and out of the harbour all the time. Establishing a trust and a strong relationship with each customer is very important
[Taylor] and I are in constant contact and talk everyday. We get a lot of support from our Distribution Centre at Hull.
What is your vision for the future of the Aberdeen office?
How important is the Hutton’s branch network to your survival?
I would like us to expand our operation here. Most business we do is adhoc. We’re not contracted to anybody. But because we’re a new face locally, a lot of the big companies shied away from us to start with. We had to prove ourselves, initially. Now, with this year’s contracts due out soon, we’re in a much better position to tender for the available business. Hopefully we’re now in a much stronger position than we were last year. Every month we can see the operation growing. We’re certainly moving in the right direction and establishing the Hutton’s brand.
We’re supported from the Hutton’s Head Office at Hull. Therefore, if we get an order which would ordinarily be too big for us, we can get the products delivered from Hull. That support is very important, but we all work very hard up here. Most orders we receive can be covered using the stock we carry here. Alex
We’re now in a much stronger position than we were last year. Every month we can see the operation growing. We’re certainly moving in the right direction
How competitive is the local market? It’s very competitive. The customers demand a high standard of service. At present we have a large number of Norwegian customers. As a result we stock a hefty quantity of Norwegian brands. I’m not aware of any other ship chandler in Aberdeen who does that.
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Alex Taylor
Breaking the mould S
porting fashionably spiky hair, brown shoes and a loose necked shirt, minus a tie, Alex Taylor is, perhaps unintentionally, making a statement. He may be the fifth generation of the Taylor family to head up the family business but he‘s clearly intent on doing things his own way. He admits he’s younger than his ship supply peers. But this is hardly surprising considering his speedy graduation through almost every area of the Hutton’s business en route to the managing director’s seat he holds today. His quick progress through the ranks has given him a full appreciation of the inner workings of the company and the industry. But he’s not a man prone to following and has successfully stamped his authority on the Hutton’s success story. “Why do we have to do things in exactly the same way?” he asked. “I’ve been able to bring in new ideas to the market place and give a fresh outlook on many things.” Having studied at Trinity House Nautical School, South Shields Nautical College and served as a Second Officer with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Alex Taylor joined the family ship sup-
180th Anniversary Supplement
ply business at the age of 21. He was thrown in at the deep end as Logisitics Manager, allowing him to deploy his logistics expertise at the hub of the business. Having absorbed and contributed all he could, he quickly moved upwards into the post of Sales and Marketing Director. His progress was as fast as it was successful. And he has maintained this momentum as Managing Director. His fresh faced approach has increased Hutton’s turnover, driven a major expansion in its regional and international coverage and streamlined operations to make the company more efficient. In whatever role he has filled, Alex Taylor’s success has been built on one simple principal. “I always ask myself, ‘How can we do this better?’ not just for us, but also for our customers. We’re constantly developing systems internally and striving to make things better for us and better for the customer,” he revealed. “We export goods to the far corners of the world. We deliver products with our own transport throughout Europe. That’s achieved by having the hunger and the drive to go off and do it,” he added.
“I always ask myself, ‘How can we do this better?’ not just for us, but also for our customers. We’re constantly developing systems internally and striving to make things better for us and better for the customer” The desire and the means to succeed were implanted into Alex at a tender age. “The biggest lessons my father taught me were that hard work didn’t hurt anyone and to get anything out of life you’ve certainly got to put the effort in,” he explained. And this coaching from his father isn’t the only family influence visible in Alex Taylor today. He’s very proud of the family’s tradition in ship supply and was actively involved in the business himself as soon as he was able to be. “The family business is something I’ve always been involved with, even from the age of 10 or 11 when I was being dragged in to count nuts and bolts during stock takes. I was brainwashed from quite an early age. It’s something that I’ve always been interested in
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Alex Taylor
“I’ve always been interested in everything to do with shipping. The idea of ships travelling to exotic destinations and transporting products and raw materials around the world is fascinating”
and a legacy that’s certainly still very important to me,” he reveals. He admits that carrying on the family business brings extra responsibility and pressure. “The responsibility isn’t just to my family and my forefathers but also to everyone who works with me. I’m responsible for their welfare. It’s how you react to this pressure that determines how successful you are. In this industry there’s a lot of pressure because we’re always working to very tight deadlines,” he explained. However, despite the pressures, Alex Taylor still has a childlike enthusiasm for the industry, a passion which extends into wider maritime circles. “I’ve always been interested in everything to do with shipping. The idea of ships travelling to exotic destinations and transporting products and raw materials around the world is fascinating. “If you’re involved in this industry – I don’t mean just being a ship’s chandler but in shipmanagement, in agency, in anything to do with shipping – it gets into your blood. And, in fact, it’s not a job that you can leave behind when you walk out of the office at the end of the day. You travel abroad to visit customers and to go to exhibitions. It’s work, but it completely takes over your life,” Alex Taylor said. “When I leave the office to go home, work is constantly at the back of my mind. I can’t help but think about the job to the point where I wake up on a Monday morning and I can’t wait to get into work,” he added.
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He is clearly conscientious and spends much of his time walking around the site and talking to his staff on the shop floor: checking everything is being done correctly, that people are happy and freely offering his advice where it’s needed He jokes today that the Hutton’s business is “my little baby,” and is visibly a hands-on manager. He is clearly conscientious and spends much of his time walking around the site and talking to his staff on the shop floor: checking everything is being done correctly, that people are happy and freely offering his advice where it’s needed. After all, following his experience in many positions across the company, the Hutton’s boss has a very clear idea of how things should be done. However, this eagerness to be involved stems from a genuine enjoyment of the dynamic and fast paced business environment. “The difference between this industry and any other industry is that we’re working to such tight deadlines. It’s our personal respon-
sibility to make sure that a vessel gets what it needs. That vessel could order a load of materials required for an urgent repair. If it doesn’t get those materials, then we’re letting that customer down, personally. The time pressure is something I really enjoy. “Sometimes I will go home and think, ‘Why am I doing this?’ But, at the end of the day, the reason I do it is for the adrenaline and the kick. When we have got tight deadlines, we haven’t simply got to turn things around but also make money out of it. That’s where the pressure comes in and that’s fantastic. When we’ve got a big order that you’ve got to turn around within 24 hours, that’s a big task. When we do it, as we always do because we’ve got no other option, it’s a big pat on
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Alex Taylor
the back and that’s the buzz for me. We sometimes perform miracles for our customers,” he said. This dedication and commitment to get the job done often extends beyond the traditional nine to five. Alex Taylor describes this as “something that has to be done” but admits he sometimes has to be firm with himself – or rather others are firm with him – to make sure he takes a break. Returning recently from a business trip to Hamburg, Germany, he suffered a number of delays. Diverted to a different airport he took a coach to collect his car and finally arrived home at 2 o’clock on a Saturday morning. He still went into work that same morning and was keen to go in again on Sunday. At this point his wife ‘politely’ suggested that it was not such a good idea. “I never did go in that Sunday morning,” he said. On the odd occasion Alex Taylor allows him-
self to get away from work he admits to liking the finer things in life. “If I have got any time off, I will quite happily go away for a weekend to a lovely hotel and go for a fantastic meal somewhere with a quality bottle of wine. That to me is bliss. If I’ve worked for two or three weeks non-stop, to get that moment away is priceless. I love the countryside. I live out in the country, about 25 miles from work. It’s a beautiful drive and when I get home it’s like my own little paradise,” he said. But no matter where Alex Taylor is in the world, you can be sure the goings-on at Hutton’s are never very far from his mind. He’s likely to be plotting the company’s and his next forward move. Even with the 180 year anniversary land mark passing this year,
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the young Managing Director prefers to look to the future. “We’ve got the knowledge and the experience,” he said. “Our product knowledge is extensive and we’ve maintained that over the years. I know we’ve certainly brought forward lots of traditional values: The customer is always right and hard work never hurt anyone. These are the core values we believe in. But looking forward, we’ve got to adapt. Shipping is constantly evolving. We’ve always changed, we’ve always evolved with it and we’re always taking it forward. We keep things simple and ask, why are we here? We are here to supply ships. We are here to look after the customers’ requirements. That’s something that we’ve always done and something we always will do. That’s what keeps us going.”
“Sometimes I will go home and think, ‘Why am I doing this?’ But, at the end of the day, the reason I do it is for the adrenaline and the kick. When we have got tight deadlines, we haven’t simply got to turn things around but also make money out of it”
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Inside Hutton’s
In the mix “He is only young, but he has got an intensity that he uses to get the job done from start to finish. We all feed off from that. If he was laid back and played golf everyday, this won’t work. In this trade the boss has got to be hands-on. He has got to be inside, in the cogs, doing it. He’s an intensive part of the business and another member of the team.
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he operations room at Hutton’s Hull Head Office is a hive of activity. Staff in high visibility vests come and go under a whirlwind of shouted conversation. Others sit at desks which are half buried beneath a blanket of paperwork. They alternate their time between telephone conversations and relaying messages. The room is full of energy. The conversation is loud and the language is occasionally colourful. “It appears like chaos in here sometimes, but the operation is actually very well organised,” explained Martin Kemp, Hutton’s Operations Manager and a ten year veteran of the company. “It’s got to be appreciated just how speedily we’ve got to do our job. The ships don’t stand around, they’re not like a supermarket situated on the street corner. They actually move around and there’s nothing we can do once they’re gone. We all appreciate the limited number of hours we’ve got to turn a job around. We have got to be organised to make sure that the right people are in the right place at exactly the right time.” The operations room is at the heart of the Hutton’s organisation. From here orders are taken and processed, stock purchased, the transport coordinated, customer enquiries handled and every job carefully monitored to be sure the operation remains profitable. This fast-paced hub is also awash with ship supply know-how. The areas of specialist knowledge dotted around this generic square room are the envy of many ship supply rivals. Expertise ranges from the nuts and bolts of hardware to the finer points of bonded stores
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and chemical supply. From this central point the know-how is filtered out into other areas of the company. Every staff member – from the truck drivers to Barry Wilkinson the eccentric warehouse foreman – must have first rate knowledge in their selected areas in order to keep the conveyor of supply running smoothly. However, it’s teamwork that underpins the success of the Hutton’s operation. This may sound a little cliché, but with time pressure the only common thread running through each order, the ability of the staff to work together should not be underestimated. “Teamwork and cooperation between ourselves and our suppliers is the only thing that keeps us going,” said Martin, who is in no doubt who sets the team work ethos within the company. “It stems from the top; from the input that the boss has and the intensity and the knowledge that he wants.
The operations room is at the heart of the Hutton’s organisation. From here orders are taken and processed, stock purchased, the transport coordinated, customer enquiries handled and every job carefully monitored to be sure the operation remains profitable
180th Anniversary Supplement
Inside Hutton’s
It’s teamwork that underpins the success of the Hutton’s operation. This may sound a little cliché, but with time pressure the only common thread running through each order, the ability of the staff to work together should not be underestimated He’s not just the managing director. When he’s away we miss him greatly, because he’s part of that operation. A massive part,” Martin continued. Alex Taylor, Hutton’s Managing Director, was quick to pay tribute to the skills and teamwork his staff display every day. “We have a very tight and close team. We all work on a trust basis. If I give someone something to do I will trust that it will be done,” he said. “I look for everyone being an integral part of the company, whether that is the truck driver, the picker in the warehouse or a top manager. They’ve all got a real part to play. We’re all part of a team – we’re all part of the family.
We all know each other and work with each other. There are no walls or boundaries here. We all work as a unit to get the job done well and right. And, to be fair, everyone here works very, very hard. They all put in a lot of time and effort. That to me is the most important factor in making sure the job is done right first time,” he added. Teamwork may be the key ingredient in keeping the Hutton’s operation running smoothly, but Alex Taylor has a way of making the staff feel valued. The operations room is an open plan set up where communication is easy. But upstairs the boss works with an open door policy to encourage all staff members, regardless of their job title, to share ideas and make a genuine contribution. “If I see something in my area that I think could be improved then the scope is there for me to be open and say, ‘Look, if we were to do things this way it would take the pressure off elsewhere’. “Since I joined earlier in the year I’ve introduced a couple of things into our computer
system that has helped us to log everything more efficiently. This has made it easier at the end of the month when we have to do our returns. It’s there in black and white and it makes filling our forms out much easier. I think the company is open enough for everybody to have their say if they believe their ideas are going to help us,” explained Customs Clerk, bonded stores specialist and part-time sports photographer, Paul Brook. When the heat is on the staff – as it inevitably is in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of the operations room – the team work ethic and appreciation shows its true worth. “It’s a team scenario, you’ve got to put your arm around somebody who is having trouble and help them,” Martin explained. “It’s easy to see when people are suffering when you work in close proximity. If we see somebody struggling, we assist them with their workload. We certainly don’t let each other suffer in silence if somebody is struggling with a task. The main priority is for us to have just a little bit of jollity all the way through the day.”
“We have a very open relationship here. There is, of course, a chain of command. We have an Operations Manager who is ultimately responsible for the warehouse. I’m ultimately responsible for everything and will quite happily walk down and speak to anybody who has a problem or needs some advice. At the same time, anybody is welcome to approach me at any time during the day”
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Inside Hutton’s
New website launch Hutton’s is set to launch a new look website in a bid to increase its online presence and expand its service to customers. The new company website, which will boast a full version of the new anniversary product catalogue, is another step in Hutton’s pursuit of customer service excellence. The site, which will retain the traditional contact information present on the existing template, will allow customers to search the complete Hutton’s product range. It is hoped this updated information and enhanced interactivity will be a hit with customers and help ensure their ships are always fully supported. Many modern vessels still lack full internet access. However, as onboard communications become more affordable the website will be ready to meet the needs of shipboard staff. “If a specific technical item were required a customer could go online and view it on the website,” Hutton’s Managing Director, Alex Taylor, said. “They could then forward the information onto the technical team. That sort of service is obviously beneficial to all parties. This service is going to make our products more accessible to our customers.”
Many modern vessels still lack full internet access. However, as onboard communications become more affordable the website will be ready to meet the needs of staff onboard customers’ vessels
Power to the people Recruiting and retaining the best talent is a major issue affecting every strand of the maritime industry. At Hutton’s the emphasis is placed upon valuing the company employees and empowering them to progress. Managing Director, Alex Taylor, said: “We offer development courses to all of our staff. If you’ve got someone and they’re good then they need to be treasured and kept onboard.” This theory was put firmly into practice when the company recently assisted drivers to successfully complete HGV and Hazardous Goods (ADR) training. Helping an individual to progress and gain
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new skills is beneficial to both the company and the employee, Mr Taylor explained. “The employee is happy because he is progressing his career and getting reimbursed accordingly. We’re getting someone who has got more experience, a higher qualification and, at the same time, retaining someone who is an integral part of the company,” he said. “I consider each individual to be an integral part of the company, from the drivers to the pickers in the warehouse or the managers at the company. They’ve all got a real part to play,” Mr Taylor concluded.
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Inside Hutton’s
Money matters “If you know your customers it’s quite handy to get to that person straight away. You do find that you can build up a good rapport over the years with these customers”
When Jeff Harland answered his phone at 7:30 in the morning he was surprised to hear the voice of Alan Taylor on the line. The then Hutton’s Managing Director invited Jeff for an immediate interview and left him in no doubt as to the level of commitment demanded from Hutton’s staff. Jeff had told Mr Taylor he was available for interview “at any time”, and
his boast had been taken very literally. Jeff’s enthusiasm did the trick and now, six years later, he is still with the company as Finance Manager. In that time he’s seen a three-fold increase in the company’s turnover and established strong relationships with many of Hutton’s customers. “If you know your customers it’s quite handy
to get to that person straight away. You do find that you can build up a good rapport over the years with these customers,” he said. With over 40 years experience in finance control Jeff admits recent IT developments have made his job easier, “with VAT returns now completed in seconds”, but his attention to detail is still of the highest order. “We’ve got to ensure our admin is right, our invoices are going out correctly, our delivery notes are signed, that they’re going out to customers and so on. There’s no reason why payments should be delayed,” he said. “By doing everything correctly the first time we are going to ensure that we get repeat business from our customers.” With such commitment to customer satisfaction, Jeff is convinced that Hutton’s will continue to soar. “I foresee that I will be here for another five years and I believe we will see the company go from strength to strength as we have done over the last three to five years,” he said.
Passage to India Hutton’s showed its international reach by supplying the new SBS Marine platform supply vessel for its maiden voyage from Norway to India. The SBS Torrent, built by Norwegian yard, Karmsund, was kitted out with a full range of frozen, chilled and ambient goods for its one month voyage to the Indian west coast. Hutton’s also took care of the customs paperwork and clearance procedures, which were complicated by port procedures in both India and Norway.
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Norway has strict import regulations and India is equally restrictive with beef and pork (halal) imports. Alex Taylor, Hutton’s Managing Director heralded the success of the project. He said: “Hutton’s has been supplying the maritime industry for the last 180 years and we’re very pleased to have worked with SBS Marine to supply its latest vessel with a comprehensive range of international food products and other essential hardware for its voyage to India.”
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Industry Insight
Defying the doubters F
ew things are more satisfying than proving critics wrong and Barwil Unitor has done just in that a year on from an ambitious merger of two leading brands. The company, launched by Wilhelmsen Maritime Services in May 2006, achieved a reported 15% increase in turnover following the amalgamation of the independent Unitor and Barwil companies.
Barwil Unitor Ships Service comprises the world's leading maritime services network, with the capability to serve 2,200 ports in 116 countries. Its focus is to deliver improved vessel operating efficiency to the merchant fleet. Last year Barwil Unitor made 175,000 product deliveries to customer vessels and handled 51,000 port agency calls. A comprehensive range of standardised
services is offered, backed by a global service and logistics organisation. These include securing an optimal cargo and equipment mix, increasing revenue and reducing empty equipment costs, keeping customer vessels in compliance with regulations, enhancing safe operations and supplying a full range of marine products that perform reliably at sea and meet customer requirements for quality, availability and cost. Barwil Unitor’s comprehensive offer of port services, safety services and marine products is based on years of experience in solving its customers' requirements. It’s committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality in all phases of its operations and continuously strives to improve and offer excellent services to its customers.
Marine chemicals
Barwil Unitor’s comprehensive offer of port services, safety services and marine products is based on years of experience in solving its customers' requirements
The Marine Chemicals range • Fuel Oil Treatment • Cooling Water Treatment • Boiler Water Treatment • Cleaning & Maintenance Chemicals
With turnover up by as much as 25% in certain areas, company President, David Tandy is convinced the merger has met market demand. "The industry trend toward consolidation has created fewer and larger shipping companies seeking suppliers which can provide global turnkey solutions," Tandy said. "In a sense, the merger was driven as much by industry demand as the initiative of our parent company, Wilhelmsen Maritime Services."
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• Tank & Cargo Hold Cleaning Unipol Aquatuff High Foam Slip Coat
Barwil Unitor offers a comprehensive range of quality marine chemicals; including the marine market’s most extensive range of Low Toxic alternatives available worldwide. Produced at its own production plant, Unitor Chemicals AS, which is certified according to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, the latest development and production technology is utilised to provide a total on board package. In addition, a wide range of dosing, cleaning and test equipment is available to facilitate the application of chemicals in an economical and trouble-free way. The fundamental requirement for a supplier of marine chemicals is to be able to deliver the products when and where needed. Barwil Unitor's world-wide network provides the optimum distribution channel for the supply of chemicals to vessels. Within the network, highly competent marine chemical specialists provide application and technical support to vessels globally.
• Biochemicals • Pool & Spa Products • Chemical Testing & Dosing Equipment • Oil Spill Kits
Hutton’s is a Barwil Unitor Service Provider 180th Anniversary Supplement
Industry Insight
A healthy relationship F
rom humble beginnings as a high street chemist Marine & Offshore Medical Supplies has undergone some heavy cosmetic surgery en route to becoming a leading medical supplier to the maritime industry. The company has gone from strength to strength since it abandoned the high street and turned towards the maritime world. It was integrated into the Hutton’s group in January 2005, and co-founder and Managing Director, John MacDonald, is convinced the relationship with Hutton’s has been a success. “The merger of the two businesses certainly increased opportunities and allowed Marine & Offshore Medical Supplies to move forward,” he said. “There are two main advantages. One is the increased floor space as a result of access to Hutton’s dedicated warehouse at Hull. This allows me to store more goods and take care of bigger orders. The ability to store greater volumes of stock has increased our response time by at least 24 hours. We can also supply more specialist items than we could in the past. “We operate as separate businesses but there is always the opportunity to help each other out. Hutton’s often get enquiries which I’m able to help with. I have knowledge in certain areas which they don’t possess, and vice verse,” he continued.
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Mr MacDonald is certain that bringing the businesses together has also proved beneficial to the Hutton’s brand. “I believe it has improved its overall business appearance. Hutton’s was a traditional chandler, supplying food and hardware. Now it can offer a much more complete and comprehensive service. Now there are very few items which Hutton’s is unable to supply to a ship,” he said. The knowledge contained within the Marine & Offshore Medical Supplies office is also exploited by others. Mr MacDonald is often called upon to advise ship owners and authorities on how to adapt to the changing legislative environment. He said: “When regulations change we’re able to work with ship owners in an advisory role. In the past we’ve worked closely with owners of vessels who felt they were being unfairly treated. In the UK we’re also advisors to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. When changes are proposed to legislations we’re contacted and asked for our input on what the impacts of the legislation might be.” However, the real benefit of Mr MacDonald’s expertise has been felt by his customers. “The main variable which sets us apart from most of our competitors is there are only two or possibly three other businesses like us in the UK, exclusively dedicated to
“We now have the ability to adapt and respond to much larger clients that we wouldn’t have been able to deal with in the past“ the supply of medical equipment. Quite a few others do it as an ‘add-on’ to their normal business,” he said. “As a consequence there are lots of people who dabble in this highly sophisticated market. However, it’s not only medicines that are needed onboard ship. Medical equipment is also required and that’s where others come unstuck. They often don’t know what the medical equipment is used for or where to get it from. We have an advantage here as a dedicated marine supplier. Buoyed by the success of the merger, which has been followed by two years of “steady growth”, the outlook is bright for Marine & Offshore Medical Supplies. “The future looks very positive,” Mr MacDonald said. “We now have the ability to adapt and respond to much larger clients that we wouldn’t have been able to deal with in the past. Now we can quite comfortably provide a service to large offshore platforms belonging to oil majors. We can now compete for really big clients and be sure we can meet their needs.”
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Industry Insight
Raising the standard
S
hip operators intent on using price as the only criteria for differentiating between suppliers are driving down the overall quality of the ship supply industry. The problem appears most acute at lines where orders are made by the procurement officer rather than by shipboard staff. “If the choice of supplier only boils down to price, the only possible outcome is that the quality can go down,” warned Alex Taylor, Hutton’s Managing Director. Mr Taylor said suppliers who were willing to compete on the issue of price alone and to continually undercut the going rate would always maintain a presence in the industry. “There will always people who are willing to do the business for less and less. However, it always reaches a point where the only things that can occur are a drop in service and a drop in quality,” Mr Taylor continued. With this behaviour rife in the market, the Hutton’s Managing Director has deliberately
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positioned his family firm in a different league. He said: “We always stress that we offer more than just a cheap supplier. We offer the full service and a quality product.” The class of operator attracted to use the Hutton’s services bears testament to the quality of the products supplied by the UK-based chandler. “We always do a lot of business with Scandinavian and Northern European customers. Ship operators from these regions are much more interested in the service and quality side of the market,” Mr Taylor explained. Hutton’s is able to maintain its own high standards by imposing strict internal standards on the products it supplies. The company also fosters strong working relationships with a number of highly respected suppliers. Alex Taylor explained: “You can only drop the price a certain amount. We set a strict quality limit on the products that we buy. We use respected suppliers for our products so
that we can be sure of the quality. For example, the tools we stock are purchased from Draper Tools, a UK-based manufacturer. Draper Tools only supply quality products, which are very competitively priced in the marketplace. “People ask for a price and we quote for that of course. However, we find that we’re very competitive in the UK,” he added. Mr Taylor concedes that the industry’s fixation with price is not likely to go away. However, as the Hutton’s branch network goes from strength to strength, there is a definite resolve that the company will continue to be a bastion of quality and ensure its customers remain happy. “If we supply quality products on time there will be less returns and the vessel will be happy. The ship will operate more efficiently, run more smoothly and lead to less headaches for the customer,” Mr Taylor concluded.
180th Anniversary Supplement
Industry Insight
Eazychem: A formula for success Big may be beautiful, but for the customers of Eazychem a specialised and dedicated service is just about perfect. The company, founded in 2002, has blended chemicals expertise with strong customer relations to create a winning formula. “Having the products in place is one part of the equation. But, more importantly, we’re very focused on the smaller independent ship owner or manager with one to 30 vessels in its fleet. Often these companies can get left by the way side and neglected by the larger suppliers. We’re dedicated to working with these smaller lines,” explained, Marc Sfakianakis, Eazychem, Managing Director. “Our strengths are in dealing with small shipping companies where we can build up a strong relationship. Some call them customers: I call them our partners. We’re not a vending machine where you feed your money in and get the products out. We’re a partner to them. That’s the kind of relationship we want with our customers,” he added. Eazychem now has a presence in 18 countries globally. It’s particularly strong in Greece and the UK where small ship owners are prominent. Mr Sfakianakis is convinced his customerfocused approach gives Eazychem an advantage over its rivals. “Unlike most of our peers in the market, we specialise only in chemi-
cals,” he said. “We’re not a one-stop supermarket. We’re a specialist chemicals supplier. Other companies have diversified into other product lines. As a result they lose some of the skills and some of the knowledge in applying certain products to certain organisations.” Eazychem’s customer dedication doesn’t stop when normal offices close for the day. “We’ve a 24 hour operation which allows us to take orders and supply them at any time during the day. We quite often get calls from customers who have contacted other companies outside of normal office hours and found their offices were closed. As a result they’ve come to us and we’ve been able to deliver. I’d say our deliverability is unmatched. We strive to fulfil 100% of the requisitions our customers give to us,” Mr Sfakianakis continued. Despite the recent rapid growth of the Eazychem brand, Mr Sfakianakis has no time for complacency. Establishing a stronger presence in Norway and Germany is his immedi-
ate priority. However, he has a wider longterm vision. He said: “Within three to five years we’ll be focusing our efforts in the Asian markets. We’re looking to open up a hub in Singapore or Malaysia which can look after the growing market in the Far East. There’s a naturally growing market and a migration of skills to that part of the world. The growing economies of India and China should naturally become larger players in the shipping markets as well.”
Size matters The consolidation phenomenon in the ship supply sector may have peaked and is likely to lead to a stable yet competitive market where international brands and regional suppliers co-exist. Acquisitions and mergers have been very much in vogue throughout the ship supply sector in recent years but the market has reached equilibrium, Alex Taylor, Hutton’s Managing Director believes. He said: “I think it’s got to the point where
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it [consolidation] can’t proceed any further.” In the UK 50% of trade is dominated by major brands and the remainder fulfilled by local suppliers. Mr Taylor predicted that the market would remain competitive in the UK, with both major forces and local suppliers flourishing. “There’s still a market for both to operate. The larger ships chandlers will operate on a national level and handle the larger orders because they’ve got the infrastructure and
the logistics to be able to cope. They also have the potential buying power to be able to win that business,” he said. “Locally based companies will still be able to operate because there’ll always be ships which urgently require items. This type of business is usually picked up by a smaller local company in instances where price isn’t as important as it is for a larger order,” Mr Taylor concluded.
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Future Focus
Forward thinking T
he Champagne is on ice, the balloons are being filled and 180 candles are being readied. However, while there’s a trace of a party mood in the air at Hutton’s Hull HQ as the anniversary year rolls around, there’s not a hint of complacency. Preferring to focus on future opportunities rather than past success, Hutton’s Managing Director, Alex Taylor, is determined that the company takes full advantage of the unique opportunities a land mark anniversary brings. “It’s a good opportunity for us to highlight that the company has a long history, is well established and still going strong,” he said. “It also gives us a chance to inform customers and potential customers of our existence and what we can do for them. At the same time we would like to show ship owners, shipmanagement specialists and other associates that we’re a forward thinking company, capable of meeting their needs.” With a sixth generation of the Taylor dynasty due to arrive in October, the Hutton’s boss is in a positive mood on all fronts. “I’m very upbeat about the future. There are people in the ship supply sector and generally in the maritime industry who believe business will
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The company is growing, the customer base is growing, the turnover is growing and the product range is growing
never be as good as it used to be, and the industry isn’t as good as it was in the goodold-days. It may be the case, but I wasn’t around in the good-old-days, so I don’t know. So I’m very optimistic about the future,” he explained. “The last three years have been our best on record. The company is growing, the customer base is developing, the turnover is increasing and the product range is expanding: these are all signs of a positive future. I don’t see any limits at all to us reaching the targets we’ve set for ourselves over the next few years,” Mr Taylor continued. A main priority on the horizon for Hutton’s is to increase its profile by widening the scope of its branch network. “The earth is a shrinking place. What we need to look at is adding additional quality services to accompany our products. The new operation within the shipping industry means that things happen a lot more quickly and owners are relying more on an established supply network rather than looking for a supplier in each individual port they visit. It’s a matter of
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Future Focus
“Certainly within the next 18 to 24 months we will be looking at providing what we see as full UK coverage, and to be within two hours of every single UK port“ can open branches to offer support to customers there. If we can utilise an office in the Middle East or the Far East, that we could use to offer support to our customers and also as a transit base for ship stores and forwarding spares and consignment orders, that would be a major asset,” he explained. And it’s not only geographical expansion that is on the cards. In recent years Hutton’s has looked to expend services from traditional cargo ships to the growing cruise industry. “This is a growth market, not just in the UK but worldwide. It’s projected to have growth for many years to come. It’s an area where we
And it’s not only geographical expansion that is on the cards. In recent years Hutton’s has looked to expend services from traditional cargo ships to the growing cruise industry If Hutton’s is successful in widening operations on the home front, there’s also a suggestion that the branch network could be successfully applied in mainland Europe and beyond lines linking certain areas with certain suppliers. For us, our branch network throughout the UK means we can take care of vessels at any UK port. “That gives our customers the chance of consolidating their processes and to just deal with one company which can look after a wider area. However, there is always room for improvement in our services. What we’ve got to do is look at areas where we may have a weakness within the UK,” he added. “Certainly within the next 18 to 24 months we will be looking at providing what we see as full UK coverage, and to be within two hours of every single UK port. We are going to squeeze out that extra 5% in the more remote corners of the UK. Within the next
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two years we will be opening new offices to be able to support these areas. “The UK network we have is very good, but, at the same time, we currently have certain areas which are outside of our specified two hour target. These are areas we need to look at covering and that will mean opening new branches.” If Hutton’s is successful in widening operations on the home front, there’s also a suggestion that the branch network could be successfully applied in mainland Europe and beyond. “It could spread into Europe and further a-field to create a strategic network. We’re a British company and the UK network is where we do our core business. But ultimately the network could extend from there. That is one of our medium to long term goals and is certainly something that we’re discussing and considering for the future. “Over the next three to five years we’re looking to explore new avenues and open offices internationally. We’re in Europe and can get to the mainland relatively quickly. We’re also looking at other markets where we
currently have a relatively small portion of the market sector in the UK and it’s certainly an area where we’re looking at expanding our current levels,” Mr Taylor said. “It’s a similar trade and runs very close to our current markets. Any ship you supply will give you demanding targets in both time and volume. A cruise ship has the same demands, it’s a case of arranging large quantities of specific quality products within the same time constraints. You deal with that in exactly the same way – it’s just a different product. The cruise market is certainly an area we’re looking to move into and we have the facilities and the structure to be able to cope. It’s just a case of applying ourselves and informing customers that this is a service we can provide,” Mr Taylor concluded.
“The cruise market is certainly an area we’re looking to expand into and we have the facilities and the structure to be able to cope. It’s just a case of applying ourselves”
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Hutton & Co. (Ship Chandlers) Ltd James Bell House, Connaught Road, Kingswood, Hull HU7 3AQ, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1482 324093 • Fax:+44 (0) 1482 580588 • E-mail: sales@huttons-chandlers.com